WINE SHOP APPROVED
FOR NOTERMANN BUILDING IN VICTORIA
Councilmembers voted 3-1 on Janu-ary 25^th to approve a resolution granting an off-sale liquor license to Ryan Dussault for his proposed bottle shop in the Noter-mann Building in downtown Victoria.  Name of the store:  Parker Tannin's Wine Shop.
Mr. Dussault said he was proud of the name of the shop, that it's named after his three sons - Parker, Collin, and Tanner.  He said the inventory will consist of approximately 70% wine and 30% spirits and beer.
Deep Baveja, owner of Hi-5 Liquors on Commercial Boulevard in Victoria, spoke to the issue.  "I'm speaking as a local resident of Victoria and local busi-ness owner.  I've been doing business six years in Victoria and I don't think Victoria is big enough ...
"All the bars in Victoria also have the privilege of off-sale liquor.  There are already five liquor licenses within a quarter mile of each other in Victoria.  Even big grocers have liquor stores now.  It's getting tougher and tougher ...
"Because the city is growing doesn't mean the business is growing at that same rate ... The grocery lobby is getting stronger to get liquor into the grocery stores."
Deep also referred to the parking issue in downtown Victoria and new businesses that are moving or recently moved into the renovated Notermann Building including a dance studio, barber shop, chiropractor, meat market, and now a wine shop.  "Right now it takes me two times going around the block to get a spot to park by the Post Office in the morning," he said.
Victoria City Clerk Jennifer Kretsch said, "The State of Minnesota does not limit the number of liquor licenses for the City of Victoria.  It depends on the gov-erning body."
Victoria Planning Director Holly Kreft stated, "The approval of the Noter-mann Building happened prior to our concept of shared parking.  The Shared Parking Ordinance requires fewer park-ing spaces than our current ordinance."
Victoria Assistant Planner Angie Perrara said, "This use doesn't make the parking any more deficient than it has been."
Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "We need to have retail businesses that are successful in Victoria ... I'm scared to death of the Shared Parking Ordinance ... I do not wish the fear of compounding the problem.  It's not about the liquor.  It's about the parking."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "Jim's point is well taken ... As we continue to grow, we're going to have to park further away.  When you go to Ridgedale, all the spots by the door are full and you have to park further away.  Sometimes people have to walk a couple of blocks ... We want so much commerce down here that people do have to walk a couple of blocks.  People have wanted a Mackenthun's store here.  They want retail.  There are certain prices that you have to pay for some of these things ... We're growing.  I'm comfortable we're going to work this out."
Stated Justin Harguth, owner-partner of CEI Ventures, the company that owns the Notermann Building, "We're one of the few businesses in town that has its own parking lot."  That parking lot is cur-rently under a two-year lease (to 2008) with the City of Victoria. 
About the number of liquor places in town, Kim Roden said, "As a council-member I don't determine the market."  She made the motion to approve Parker Tannin's Wine Shop for the Notermann Building.  The motion passed 3-1 with Jim Paulsen dissenting.  Tim Amundsen was absent.
Since the sale of alcoholic beverages is a conditional use within the Central Business District of Victoria, Mr. Ryan Dussault was granted a conditional use permit, also with 3-1 vote.

OTHER VICTORIA NEWS
FROM THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2007
*Mayor Thun reported on January 11^th that she had a meeting with Steve Sarvi, Victoria City Administrator on an 18-month Army National Guard call-up who was home from Iraq for a couple weeks at Christmas.  "The President's speech affected Steve," she said.  "He was expected home in March or April.  The earliest we can expect him back is some time in August.  I want him and his family to know we wish him Godspeed and many blessings.'
*Said Richard Tieden, commenting on the growing number of signs on Main Street Victoria, including the new "Two-hour parking" signs, "It's becoming the City of Lakes and Parks and Signs."
*Mayor Mary Thun said she has made a commitment to Sue Orsen, editor and publisher of the Victoria Gazette, to write a column for the paper each month and that other councilmembers are also welcome to write the council's column.
*The Carver County Assessor sched-uled the annual Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting for Victoria on Thursday, April 12^th, at 6 p.m.  It provides residents the opportunity to appeal the assessed value on their homes.
*Carver Co. Commissioner Randy Maluchnik, elected in November 2006 to represent the district that includes the City of Victoria, was introduced at the first city council meeting of the year.  He spoke briefly at the podium and said that elected officials "should do more listening and less talking.  I hold the City of Victoria in very high regard."

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